Richard
The red flash half-blinded Grey for a moment. But as chaos erupted in the pub, he could see Newt slumped unconscious in his seat. Adrenaline fired in his system and in a split second, Grey swung around to face Grindelwald and the cloak bearer. The dark wizard's wand was aloft and a terrifying look of loathing twisted his features. Behind him, the older man was frozen in terror. Over the shouting and sound of hurried feet, Grey desperately locked eyes with the man.
"Go!" He yelled as loudly as he could, ignoring how Grindelwald immediately moved in his direction, "Dissaparate, flee, he's going to kill you for the cloak."
To his relief, the frightened man instantly vanished with a crack. Grey turned to Newt, drawing his wand. What was the reviving spell? He could hardly think straight.
His wand flew from his hand. Grindelwald pocketed it. The look of fury on his face was terrifying. Grey tried to swiftly scramble out of his reach but the dark wizard snatched at him with snake-like reflexes, seizing the front of his shirt. He yanked Grey to his feet.
"You will regret this," Came the low hiss from his lips as Grey felt them disapparate.
They landed in the courtyard, and the boy twisted himself from Grindelwald's hold. Grey glared at him, hating every aspect of his supposed father.
"You failed," He sneered, "That man escaped to who knows where and now you'll never get your precious Hallow."
As he yelled, a few of Grindelwald's followers slithered from the castle like vultures. Grey had no idea what galvanised him to taunt Grindelwald so, perhaps it was the weeks of pent-up rage. Yet, Grindelwald merely steeled his features.
"Rosier," He stated calmly, "Go to Fesselstadt and collect the unconscious Scamanded and his case."
Rosier nodded and apparated.
"Abernathy, fetch Richard from the cells, bring him here."
Every ounce of courage faded from Grey's body, replaced with cold regret. It bled to his face and shook his hands.
"I am so disappointed in you, Grey," Grindelwald sighed, pulling Grey's wand from his pocket, "I hoped you had learnt, but clearly you have too much of Dumbledore in you."
"I am nothing like him," Grey seethed suddenly.
Grindelwald smirked.
He held Grey's wand before him the snapped it in two.
"You think you know what's best," Lamented Grindelwald, dropping the pieces.
As he paced, Grey stared horrified at the remains of his wand.
"Dumbledore does too. But all that ever led him towards was pain and grief."
At his words, there was a loud crack and Rosier reappeared, dragging an unconscious Newt by his coat. She placed the case beside him, bound his hands with chains she conjured from her wand then strolled back to Grindelwald. The dark wizard's smile widened. Raining his own wand, he pointed it at Newt. For a terrifying moment, Grey thought he was going to kill him but instead, he cast 'enervate' and Newt lurched to life.
"Grey!" He exclaimed as his eyes whipped frantically around the courtyard.
At that moment, the reptile man emerged, pulling Richard beside him. Grey's heart lept seeing him for the first time in days, but it quickly sunk as he took in Richard's features. The Slytherin's neck was extensively bruised as was the corner of his mouth. He looked like he hadn't eaten or slept for several days and he walked limply beside the reptile man.
"Perfect, now everyone is assembled." Grindelwald exhorted.
Richard met Grey's eyes as he was led to stand beside Newt. The look he shared was one of concern and questioning.
Addressing the two captives, Grindelwald again raised his wand at Newt.
"I want you to understand," He began, his tone laced with pressed excitement, "That everything that follows is because of Grey's actions."
Grey clenched his fists.
"He knew if he acted out, others would suffer, yet he did so anyway. He understood you would get hurt and he didn't care."
Anger and despair twisted in Grey as he surged forward at Grindelwald.
"Just punish me!" He pleaded, "Please, they've done nothing, I should be hurt-"
"Silence."
The command was so malicious, he dared not disobey. He watched despairingly, wishing he had his wand.
"So, Mr Scamander, I take great pleasure in informing you that you shall be the first to die."
A cold wind rustled the pines beyond the walls. Watching Grindelwald, and feeling the bitter cold, Grey's stomach gave a nasty jolt.
This was it.
This was the moment he'd been seeing and dreaming about for months. And all this time, Newt had been the faceless victim. He didn't want to believe it.
Grindelwald inhaled deeply.
"Avada Kedavra."
The words left the dark wizard's lips so gently. The violence of the green light seemed exaggerated in comparison. Grey held his breath, unable to tear his eyes away.
But Newt didn't fall.
At the last moment, he had been shoved to the side by a frantic form who took the curse full brunt in the head.
Grey couldn't process what had just happened.
That was when his eyes landed on the motionless body of Richard, sprawled on the stone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was so much Grey hadn't told him. There were so many things they hadn't done. But then Grey calmed himself.
It was alright.
Richard would get up any minute now. He could tell him everything that had happened in their time apart. They would hold each other, and plot how to escape. Grey would get him food and make him sleep.
Something was happening around him. Flashes and shouting.
Why wasn't Richard getting up?
Grey's steps were unsteady as he meandered through the chaos to Richard. He knelt down next to his unmoving form and shook his shoulder.
"Come on," He muttered, "Everyone's distracted, we could go!"
There was no response.
Grey jabbed him harder, causing Richard's head to roll towards him. His skin was grey and his open eyes did not move or hold any light.
Something was wrong.
Grey couldn't look at his eyes anymore. He changed his focus to something dangling from Richard's collar - an acorn on a string. He found himself taking it and staring as he held it in his bleeding palm.
A few spells flew above his head.
Just as he placed the chord around his neck, someone appeared in his line of sight. Glancing up, Grey came face to face with an unchained Newt. The wizard's wand was grasped in one hand and the suitcase in the other. Newt was speaking but it took Grey a few seconds to understand him.
"Grab my hand! Grey, grab my hand!"He repeated panicked.
Grey didn't understand but did as he was told.
As soon as his fingers brushed Newt's, there was a crack and once again he found himself being unravelled. They appeared deep within the pine forest and the castle stood about a mile away on a ridge. Grey could spot flashes of light still ricocheting around the courtyard.
Then he saw movement.
Dozens of thestrals were flying up around the castle, screeching and soaring skywards. A horrid sensation overcame him. They were flying away from death. He knew this.
Breaking from his trance, Grey frantically scanned his surroundings. Newt was breathing heavily, rummaging for something in his case but aside from that they were alone.
"We have to go back!" Grey exclaimed. His voice was trembling.
Looking up, Newt scanned him with confusion.
"We left Richard, we need to get him," Grey answered the wizard's unspoken question.
The confusion on Newt's face melted to sadness as he closed his case, clutching a dented kettle.
"I'm sorry, my hands were full, I couldn't bring- I'm sorry." He murmured.
"I can't leave him."
Grey's breathing was picking up. Images of what had happened were replaying over and over in his head as unparalleled panic coursed through him.
"I'm sorry," Newt repeated, "But we have to go."
He held out the kettle but Grey took a step back.
"Richard, he pushed you out of the way?" He muttered.
"Yes."
"The curse hit him?"
Tears were falling from Newt's eyes.
"Yes," He whispered.
Inexplicably, every ounce of emotion drained from Grey in an instant as he understood. Stepping forward, he grabbed the kettle. A few minutes of brief silence passed. Then a hook tugged behind his navel and the thestral's forest disappeared from sight.